Roofing material



9, 1932- H. c. MACAN 1,871,068

ROOFING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 50, 1931 wi g6 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY G. MACA N, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 ANACONDA SALES COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE noormo MATERIAL Application filed January 80, 1931. Serial No. 512,357.

This invention relates to roofing material and is concerned more particularly with a roofing element which is particularly suitable for use as a valley, as a flashin and for other general purposes. More speci cally, the roof ing element of this invention includes a web of metal provided along one or both margins with a protective layer of fibrous material secured thereto and preventing corrosion, stiffening the metal and serving'other purposes which will be presently set forth.

Atthe present time, it is customary, particularlyin roofs of the better grade, to employ metal, for example, sheet copper, in the valleys, a web of copper of a weight such as 14: to 16 ozs. per square foot and a width of 18 to 20 inches being placed in the valley in such position that its side edges are overlain by the shingles or other roofing elements with which the roof is covered. In a valley so constructed it has been found that corrosion takes place with considerable rapidity along the exposed edge of the shingles overlying and contacting with the valley strip and this corrosive action is apparently due to the presence of moisture between the metal and the under surface of the shingles, as water is drawn into this space by capillary action and remains there for long periods. The rapidity with whichthis corrosion takes place depends to some extent on atmospheric conditions, the presence of corrosive gases in the atmosphere 1n certain localities hastening ,the action.

- Under allconditions, however, the principal corrosive action occurs along the linedefined by the edges of the shingles directly contacting with the metal and it extends back from that line beneath the shingles.

This invention is accordingly directed to the provision of a roofing material which is particularly useful in valleys and which is so constructed that localized or line corrosion in the areas referred to is prevented. The new material has a greater rigidity and strength than the plain metal previously used for the purpose, it makes a better joint with the shingles, and leakage through't-he metal around nails driven therethrough is prevented. The new material is useful for numerous other purposes, for example, as a flashing, an

edge strip, a gutter, andthe like, and it is of general utility as a roofing accessory.

The new product comprlses a web of metal, preferably copper of the desired weight and width, provided with layers of fibrous material such as fabric, felt, loose fibres, etc., secured thereto along its longitudinal edges by means of a suitable adhesive such as asphalt emulsion or the like. The material in this form may be used as a valley, while for flashing and edge stripping, the web is cut lengthwise so that the material includes a longitudinal portion to which a layer of the fibrous material is ailixed and another longi- ,tion illustrating the use of the material as a base flashing;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing another use of the material as a flashing;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner of converting the material into edge stripping; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the use of the material as an edge stripping. Referring now to the drawing, the material is illustrated in Fig. 1 as comprising a web 10 of metal preferably copper. This web may conveniently be approximately 20 inches in overall width and copper of a weight of 14 to 16 ozs. per square foot is suitable for the purpose. Aifixed to one face of the web along the edges thereof are layers or strips 11 of fibrous material. These layers may be of fabric, such as duck, burlap, etc., preferably treated with a water proofing material, such as asphalt. or they may be of cap sheet roofing felt of a weight of about 30 lbs. per square, or they may be made of 12 of a suitable adhesive such as an asphalt emulsion and with a web inches wide, for example, each strip may be about 5 inches in width. The strips are subjected to pressure after being placed in position to make them adhere firmly to the metal. i

In using this material in a valley as illustrated in Fig. 3, the metal is' bent along the median line as indicated at 13 so that the two portions on either side of the line of folding conform to the roof surfaces in the valley and lie flat against those surfaces. The roofing elements or shingles 14 are then laid in place overlying the felt and preferably projecting slightly beyond the inner edges of the-strips as indicated at 15.

With this arrangement, the adjacent shingles lie in direct contact with the upper surface of the fibrous layers and a better joint is provided between the relatively soft fibrous material and the under surface of the shingles, regardless of what they are made I of, than that between the shingles and plain metal. The edge of each layer acts as a water stop and practically no water enters between the shingles and the-layer since this space is raised above the surface of the metal by the thickness of the layer. Also no water can seep between the metal and the layer affixed thereto. As a consequence, corrosion along the edge of the course of shingles and known as line corrosion is prevented.

- The presence of the layers on the metal serves another useful purpose in sealing'nail holes. While it is always recommended that no nails be driven through metal valley strip,

in actual practice this cannot be followed and as a consequence holes are made ;in the metal and leakage is likely to occur through these holes. With the present construction, any

- nails driven through the shingles and passing through the metal, also pass through the fibrous material which is relatively soft and yielding and tends to seal the holes. Also, thepoints of contact of the copper flashing with the iron nails are kept dry and electrolytic action resulting in corrosion cannot be set up. i

1 The material as illustrated in Fig. 1 and useful in that form as a valley strip, may be used with slight changes as a flashing. -In

Fig. 5, there is illustrated the method of'employing the material for flashing at a place where a fiat or sloping portion of the roof joins a vertical wall such asp. parapet or chimney. The roof is shown as covered with metal and for use as a flashing in this construction, the material illustrated in Fig. 1 is slit lengthwise (along its median line or slightly at one side thereof and the free edge of the metal is turned back as indicated at 16.

Themetal is then bent approximately along the mner edge 17 of the fibrous layer to con wall. The free metal portion 18 of the material is then laid flat on the surface of the roof and the turned back portion 16 is enga ed with a similar turned. edge 19 on the ad acent portion 20 of the sheet metal roofing. That part 21 of the material which carries the layer lies against the surface of the wall with the layer exposed. A metal cap flashing 22 of standard construction is now placed in position, being anchored in the wall, for example, by having. an edge 23 extending into the wall and lying between courses of brick of which the wall is made. The cap flashing 22 has a portion 24 which hangs down and overlies the layer on the base flashing. With this arrangement, the overlying portions of the flashing are kept separated by the fibrous material and corrosion along the angle of the base'flashing is prevented by reason of the layer being secured thereto so that water can not be drawn up into the space between the layer and metal by capillary action.

In Fig. 6 another .use of the material as a flashing is illustrated. For this purpose, the

l web illustrated in Fig. 1 is slit lengthwise beserted into the wall. This arrangement is preferably employed where the roof is covered with felt or other non-metallic roofing materials and by using the new material as a flashing in the form illustrated, a good joint is obtained between the roofing and the layer carried by the metal. Line corrosion of the metal is also, avoided since any moisture that may be retained in the joint is in contact with the surface of the layer rather than with the metal.

For the purpose of producing an edge stripping, the material illustrated in Figi'l is slit lengthwiseand the free edge 30 of the metal is then folded back and over the face of the strip and in contact therewith. This stripping is-then secured to overhanging .portions of walls or parapets as illustrated in Fig. 8. The depending portion 31 of the edge strip comprises a filler of fibrous material and metal facings and it is placed against the free edge of the "overhanging p0rtion32 of the wall and secured in place in any convenient way as by nails" 33. The free edge of the metal is then bent over the top of the overhanging portion. as indicated .at 34 and secured'in place in any convenient manner as by nails 35. -With the stripping in place, any water which collects on the flat portion ofthe parapet will flow over the metal down and drip OK the free edge 36 of the stripping instead of flowing down the vertical wall 37.

As has been shown, the new material is capable of many different applications and may thus be considered of general utility. When used in valleys, it provides protection of the highest degree and at the same time the metal is kept from corrosion, leakage through the openings in the metal is prevented, and leakage or seepage up the face of the roof and between the metal and the overlying shingles is avoided by the presence of the fibrous material adhesively secured in position. The fibrous material also adds rigidity to the metal so that it can be handled and shipped without damage. The material may be em ployed for numerous other purposes without substantial changes and when delivered on the job it can be readily converted into flashing and edge stripping without the use of special tools.

I claim:

1. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like, which comprises a. web of weather-resistant metal of substantial thickness and a strip of fibrous material aflixed to one face ofthe metal web and extending substantially from one 'side edge toward the opposite side edge but stopping short thereof so as to cover a portion only of the metal.

2. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like, which comprises a web of weather-resistant metal of substantial thickness, and a relatively narrow strip of fabric aflixed to one face of the metal web and extending substantially from one side edge thereof so as to expose the remaining surface of the web.

3. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like which comprises a web of weather-resistant metal of substantial thickness, and a relatively narrow strip of asphalt-treated fibrous material afixed to one face of the metal web by a film of adhesive and extending substantially from one side edge thereof so as to expose the remaining surface of the web.

4. A material for use as a valley, 'flashing, and the like, which comprises a web of weather-resistant metal of substantial thickness, and relatively narrow layers of fibrous material aflixed to one face of the metal web and extending inwardly substantially from the opposite side edges thereof, said layers leaving a strip of metal of substantial width exposed between them.

5. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like, which comprises a web of weather-resistant metal, and relatively narrow layers of fibrous material afiixed to one face of the web and extending inwardly substantially from the opposite side edges thereof, the width of the strip of metal exposed between the layers being approximately equal to the'combined widths of the layers.

6. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like, which comprises a web of weather-resistant metal, and relatively narrow strips of asphalt-treated fibrous material affixed to one face of the web and extending inwardly substantially .from the'opposite side edges thereof, the width of the strip of metal exposed between the strips being not less than the combined widths of the strips.

7. A material foruse as a valley, flashing, and the like which comprises a web of copper, and a strip of asphalt-treated fibrous material afiixed to one face of the metal web and extending substantially from one side edge thereof, said strip leavin a substantial portion of the metal exposed.

8. A material for use as a valley, flashing, and the like which comprises a web of copper of substantial thickness, and strips of water proofed fibrous material afixed to one face of. the web and extending inwardly substantially from the opposite side edges thereof, said strips leaving a portion of the metal exposed between them of substantial width.

In testimony whereof I afi'x my signature.

HARRY C. MACAN. 

